Post office adds extra railing as safety measure

A series of minor accidents after the installation of a handicapped access ramp at the Columbia post office prompted the installation of a barrier this week.

Postmaster Pam Davis said she knows of at least three people who have reported injuries while entering or leaving the post office since the ramp was installed in the spring. The installation included a new concrete pad immediately in front of the entrance with a one-step drop off to the Walnut Street sidewalk, and that turned out to be the problem, she said.

When the pad was installed, the edge was painted with caution yellow and the words "Watch Your Step" were stenciled on the concrete. Previously, there was no step, and that might have played a part in causing the accidents, she said.

"Because of the way it was modified, we found that people have been on telephones and not paying attention" when they had accidents, Davis said.

There are railings alongside the ramp to assist people. Once the problem became apparent, Davis said, cones were placed on the step to make people aware. After discussions with the contractor, the post office installed a new railing in front of the doors, narrowing the paths for entrance and exits.

The new ramp was mandated under laws setting standards for accessibility, Davis said. It leads from the parking lot adjacent to the post office to the front door.

There have been no accidents since the new railing was installed, and Davis said she hopes that it works to keep people paying attention to where they are walking.

"I don't know what else to do, other than install a mat that when you step on it, it talks to you," she said.

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